The Legislative Branch
Goal: To learn and understand the importance
of the legislative branch in your daily life and
the process by which a bill becomes a law.
Main Function
• The main goal of the Legislative branch is
to make the laws
• Congress is the
lawmaking branch
in the United States
• A law establishes a
national policy in which
all citizens must abide by
Why a Bicameral Legislature?
• The U.S. has a bicameral legislature
• Bicameral – Two house legislature
• Reasons for it:
– Senate would represent equally
– House would represent the size of the states
– Some argue that two houses in Congress causes
deadlock – it gets nothing done.
Houses of Congress
• The Senate
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Each state has 2
100 Senators altogether
Six year terms
Must be at least 30
Average salary of
someone in
Congress is around
$170,000
• The House of Representatives
– Each state has a number set by
population
– 435 Representatives in the House
– Ohio has 16
– Average district has 647,000
people
– Two year terms
– Must be at least 25 years old
Responsibilities
• Each Congress member represents a smaller
group of citizens in the United States
• Congress men and women are responsible to
their constituents
– You are a constituent
How Do They Get Elected
• Both houses are voted on by U.S. citizens
• Interest Groups
– Groups of people who work together for one
common interest
– Can provide support and money to candidates
– I.E. American Farm Bureau
Powers of Congress
• Promoting the General Welfare – Making laws
that help people live better
• Providing for Defense – Congress has the
power to establish an army and navy and
power to declare war
• Establishing Justice –
Congress may make courts
below the Supreme Court.
Appointment of judges to these courts and
Supreme court are approved by Senate
Powers of Congress
• Unlisted Powers – Making laws that are
“necessary & proper”
• Nonlegislative Powers –
Powers given to Congress
by the Constitution that
do not necessarily pertain
to making laws
Specific Powers of Congress
Legislative Powers
Nonlegislative Powers
• Collect taxes
• Borrow money
• Regulate trade with foreign
nations and states
• Coin Money
• Establishes post offices and
highways
• Declare War
• Create, maintain, and make
rules for the armed forces
• Elect a President and a Vice
President if no candidate
gets a majority in the
electoral college
• Propose amendments to
the Constitution
• Bring impeachment charges
(House)
• Try impeachment charges
(Senate)
What happens when they get elected?
• Main focus: To create laws and uphold the
responsibilities outlined in the Constitution
• Lobbyists
– People who influence the bill that are proposed in
Congress
– People who represent interest groups
– They work to convince senators and
representatives to support bills their members
oppose or support
Checks & Balances
• A way in which one branch can make sure the
others do not get to powerful
• Congress
– War Powers Resolution - Can limit the President’s
power to declare war, Congress must first approve
it.
– Appointment of judges must be
approved by Congress
– Impeach President or federal judge
• Only the House can impeach but Senate
can put them on trial
Who Are Your Senators?
• Rob Portman
– from Cincinnati, Ohio
– Republican
– Elected in 2011
• Sherrod Brown
– from Mansfield, Ohio
– Democrat
– Elected in 2007
Who Are Your Representatives?
• Marcy Kaptur
– 9th District
– Democrat
– From Toledo, Ohio
– Serving in position since 1983.
Who Are Your Representatives Amendment
• Jim Jordan
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4th District
Republican
From Champaign County
Serving since 2007
• Bob Gibbs
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7th District
Republican
From Holmes County
Took office in 2011
Who is Your Representative?
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Wellington – Bob Gibbs
Lagrange – Bob Gibbs
Avon – Bob Gibbs
Avon Lake – Marcy Kaptur
North Ridgeville – Bob Gibbs
Columbia Station – Bob Gibbs
Lorain – Marcy Kaptur
Elyria – Jim Jordan
Grafton – Jim Jordan
Oberlin – Jim Jordan
Amherst – Jim Jordan
South Amherst – Jim Jordan
Sheffield Lake –Marcy Kaptur
Sheffield – Jim Jordan